b'40American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comAuto tariffs trouble tradeAUTO LOGISTICS 2025 Threat of US import tariff increase adds to Euro-pean automotive market woes.By Stuart Todd, AJOTAlreadyconfrontedwithTrumpsargumentisthat a number of challenges - thethe tariffs are not only a means costly shift to battery electri- ofequilibratinginternational calvehicles(BEVs),risingtrade but also a way of pushing competitionfromChina,EU automakers into manufac-emissions targets and flaggingturing more vehicles in the US.consumer demand - EuropesHehaspreviouslysaid: automotive sector, its suppli- Whentheycomeintothe ers and logistics services pro- United States, and they have viders(LSP)couldwelldotheirplantorfactoryhere, without25%tariffsonnewthere is no tariff.vehiclesexportedfromtheHowever, European man-EU to the US from 2 April. ufacturersalreadyaccount Justifying the move, Presi- foraround20%ofUSauto dentTrumpsaid:TheEUexport volumemaking them The Hegh Aurora docked at Port Freeports Berths 1 and 2. has been very unfair to us. Wedoubly vulnerable to a mount-have a (trade) deficit of $350ing US-Europe trade war.Hegh Aurora makes its inauguralbillion.TheydonttakeourSomeanalystsbelieve cars. They dont take our farmTrumpisplayinghardball products.Theydonttakeinordertoestablishparity call to Port Freeport almostanything.Theytakeon auto tariffs. The EU cur-verylittle. Andweregoingrently imposes a 10% levy on On March 4th, the Hegh Aurora shownwidened the channel to enhance navigationalto have to straighten that out,vehicle imports, while for the above, during its inaugural visit to Port Free- safety and accommodate larger vessels. and we will. U.S. its only 2.5%.port. The Hegh Aurora is the worlds largestPort Freeports partnership with HeghOnanotheroccasion,heWhateverhistactic,the and most environmentally friendly car carrier.Autoliners continues to grow, bringing eco- remarked that the US had mil- EuropeanCommissionhas This event highlights Port Freeports strategicnomicbenefitsandstrengtheningourrolelions of cars coming in (fromwarnedthatifthetariffs growth and with partners that have a sharedas a leading gateway for automotive trade,Europe)BMW,Mercedes,onautomotive(andother) commitmenttosustainability,aswellasitssaidRaviSinghania,ChairmanofthePortVolkswagen and many others. productsfromtheEUare ongoing investments in infrastructure to sup- Freeport Commission. The arrival of HeghTheEU,Germanyandintroduced, it would have no port next-generation vessels. AurorareflectsoursharedcommitmenttoItaly in particular, have longchoice but to respond firmly TheHeghAuroraisastate-of-the-artinnovationandsustainability,ensuringthatbeen a key exporter of vehi- and swiftly.roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro) vessel with advancedPortFreeportremainsattheforefrontofcles to the US. In 2023, Euro-sustainabilityfeatures,includingafuel-effi- global shipping advancements. peanautomakersexportedD rivinG as tate ofl imBocient hull and emissions-reducing technology.Port Freeport and Hegh Autoliners estab- vehiclesandcomponentstoProfessorJohnMan-This design supports the global shift towardlishedtheirROROpartnershipin2015,andtheUSworth56billionners-Bell, CEO of Transport greenershippingsolutions.TheFreeportsincethen,Heghhasplayedacrucialrole[$60.9 billion] accounting forIntelligence(TiInsight),a Harbor Channel Improvement Project facili- insupportingtheregionsautomotivesupply20% of EUs total automotive(TROUBLEcontinued on tated the vessels arrival, which deepened and(CALLcontinued on page 42) export value. page 41)CHANGECHANNELYOURMove cargo more efficiently. Scale operations for future growth.Big changes are happening. The Freeport Harbor Channel will soon be the deepest in Texas with a new modernized berth and cranes to welcome larger vessels and over 500 acres of land available for development.Its time to change your channel.1.800.362.5743 | PortFreeport.com'